Best High-Capacity 5th Wheel Hitch for 2018 Ram 3500 Long Bed Pickup with Factory Prep

Question

Question:

Our 2018 Ram 3500 is loaded for bear in terms of towing capacity. We took every towing upgrade option so we can know we're not going to strain the truck towing our large 5th wheel (GVWR 19.5). We want the best quality highest capacity 5th wheel hitch you sell. Truck is long bed with factory pucks.

asked by: Emerson

0

Expert Reply:

The high-capacity 5th wheel hitch I recommend for your Ram 3500 with OEM-prep is the B&W 25K Companion model for the Ram prep package, part # BWRVK3600. This will drop right into your factory prep setup without need for any adapters or rails.

I strongly recommend this USA-made 25K hitch because of its unmatched build quality. B&W does all of their own design, fabrication and assembly right in their family-owned Kansas facility. This manufacturing control results in a hitch with outstanding build, with features like beefy 1-inch-thick hitch jaws for iron-fisted grip on your 5th wheel king pin, a fully-articulating head for easier hookup, rattle-free operation thanks to polyurethane bushings, three height settings and 6-inches of front-to-back adjustment. All of this and a limited lifetime warranty are yours with the Companion 25K.

For more details on the Companion please refer to the linked review and installation videos.

If you want some custom-fit towing mirrors for your Ram I suggest you check out the K-Source set # KS60193-94C. This set of custom flip-out extendable towing mirrors includes special features such as power mirror adjustment, heated glass, turn signals and puddle lamps. These functions are built into the mirrors and will work on your truck so long as its OEM mirrors also have these functions. The mirrors use the OEM mounting points and wiring connections.

expert reply by: Adam R

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Answer 1

Yes the Curt Q25 fifth wheel hitch for the Ram rail kit part #C16049 that you referenced does fit the short bed models of the 2021 Ram 2500 like you have. As long as the truck has the OEM rail kit this hitch will fit as the rail kit is the same for…

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Answer 2

The Ram OEM 5th wheel puck system, shown in the linked photo and article, was launched in 2013 so what you have in your truck is likely to be an aftermarket installation of some kind. These newer Ram trucks with the factory prep can directly accept a…

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Answer 3

The B&W Companion 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch #BWRVK3500 (RVK3500) is the complete 5th wheel hitch that will mount to an existing B&W Turnoverball Gooseneck Hitch socket in the truck bed. The part #BWRVB3500 (RVB3500) that you also referenced is…

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Answer 4

I spoke with my contact at Curt in the past for this issue and he recommended to have you pull away gently with the manual override of your brake controller slid and it will release the trailer from the hitch. I attached a picture on where to grease…

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Answer 5

What was meant by neutral forward to back is that there is a middle setting that puts the jaws of the hitch in the center most position available. That would be what I would start with. The height range of the #BWRVK3600 is 17 to 19 inches measured…

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Answer 6

The best 5th wheel hitch for your 2018 Ram 3500 that is equipped with the factory puck system is the B&W OEM Companion #BWRVK3600. This an excellent hitch that features 1 inch thick dual jaws to provide 360-degree contact with the trailer's…

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Answer 7

For your 2018 Ram 3500 with the factory rail kit I recommend the B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Hitch #BWRVK3600. In addition to being the tallest available hitch we have that will fit the factory pucks on your Ram (height adjustment of 17 to 19…

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Answer 8

Both the Curt Q25 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch for Ram Towing Prep Package - Dual Jaw - 24,000 lbs #C16049 and B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Hitch for Ram Towing Prep Package - Dual Jaw - 25,000 lbs #BWRVK3600 are very good fifth wheel hitches that will…

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Answer 9

I've never heard of an actual third brake light connector on a camper shell to plug in on a truck and we don't carry any parts to do that. The light generally needs to be hardwired into the truck's brake light circuit. The issue with this…

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Answer 10

You will have to go with a sliding hitch to allow the trailer to make tight turns. For a trailer 8 feet wide the only bed length that's going to allow 90 degree turns without a slider is a stationary hitch. That being said you have two options.…

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Answer 11

For your enclosed trailer application I have several suggestions for adding interior lighting that you can control directly via a switch. Since your current 4-pole trailer wiring does NOT include a 12V auxiliary power feed that could power inside…

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Answer 12

Since you have a wheelbase/axle spacing of 38 inches the correct hanger kit for slipper springs would be the part #HAP-105-205-01. And then for a 7k trailer axle the u-bolt kit you'd want would be the part #APUBR-8. I attached the diagram to use…

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